Built automatically from council rights of way records, traffic orders and OpenStreetMap data, and checked by Holloway. How we check it
Current status
Tidal crossing, dangerous without local guidance
Tidal route across the Maplin Sands foreshore: the tide comes in as fast as you can run, with soft mud and quicksand off the line, and it is extremely dangerous in mist. Thought to have killed more than 100 people. Only attempt with local knowledge and tide times, never alone.
Warning recorded with the lane in OpenStreetMap.
Check its status nowOpens a search for any current Traffic Regulation Order on The Broomway, the same Legal Status Search as in the app. Status checked against our data on 13/11/2026.
Where it runs
The Broomway in red, with the lanes around it.
- AThe northeast end, near Churchend
- BThe southwest end, near Great Wakering
Exact start points, GPX and navigation are in Premium.
Unlock →On the lane
- Military range: runs inside MoD Shoeburyness, a military danger area. It can close without notice for live firing, check the range's firing times and obey red flags and signage before riding. (Area from OpenStreetMap.)
- Ford, depth varies
- Foulness Island MOD range: byway subject to closure for military live-firing operations at any time, no fixed schedule. Check with the range office before riding (Essex CC, Rochford district).
Unridden. Nobody has ridden and graded this lane yet, so the difficulty is a best guess from OpenStreetMap surface data. Ridden it? Suggest a grade from its card in the app.
Holloway Premium
Ride The Broomway with Holloway
- Navigate to either end in one tap, Google Maps takes you straight there
- Add it to a route with the lanes around it, joined by real roads
- Download the GPX of the whole lane, every section stitched together
- Live navigation with the lane on screen as you ride
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Lanes nearby
The closest named lanes, measured from The Broomway.
- Turtle Wall2.3 km north · 0.4 km long · Military range, can close without notice
- The Chase3.1 km northeast · 0.3 km long · Military range, can close without notice
Questions riders ask
Is The Broomway open to motorcycles?
Legally yes, but it's dangerous. The Broomway crosses tidal sands or mud, where the tide can come in faster than you can travel. Never attempt it without local knowledge and tide times.
How long is The Broomway?
About 6.0 km, measured across all 4 of its mapped sections. Its two ends are around 5.8 km apart in a straight line.
Where does The Broomway start and finish?
One end is near Churchend, at the northeast end, and the other is near Great Wakering, at the southwest end. The map on this page shows both.
Find more lanes like this
Closures are marked on the free map, with a quick email sign-in, and free accounts can open 3 lane cards a day.
Open the map, free Every named lane in EssexLane data from OpenStreetMap contributors and council rights of way and highway records (public sector information under the Open Government Licence v3.0, and OS data © Crown copyright and database rights). Place names © OpenStreetMap contributors. Reference only: legal status changes, check signage and current Traffic Regulation Orders before riding. How we check this data.